RAWALPINDI: Asad Shafiq and Shaharyar Ghani played outstanding knocks to steer Karachi Dolphins to the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup semis with a workmanlike five-wicket victory against Lahore Eagles in the Group ‘B’ match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Friday.

After their demoralising nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Sialkot Stallions two days ago, the Dolphins faced a ‘must-win’ situation — as did the Eagles — in the game that was a virtual quarter-final for both teams. In the end, the Dolphins swam easily through the efforts of Pakistan batsman Asad and the left-handed Shaharyar. The two 26-year-olds gelled well after the Dolphins lost their third wicket at 74 in the ninth over.

Asad played the role of an anchor as he reached only his second half-century at this level of cricket. He made a well-compiled 58 from 47 deliveries in a Man-of-the-Match innings that was punctuated with six exquisitely-timed boundaries. The right-hander was involved in two crucial partnerships; dominating the third-wicket stand of 50 in 31 balls with Khalid Latif (14) before adding 62 in 50 deliveries with Shaharyar.

After Asad went with 13 still required, Shaharyar guided the Dolphins home with 11 balls to spare. Showing superb presence of mind, Shaharyar made the scoreboard ticking without taking risks as he hit five fours and one six in a career-best 44 not out off 27 balls.

Earlier, Mohammad Sami justified his decision to bowl first as the Eagles were curtailed to 148-8. For the third match running, Eagles skipper Taufiq Umar (30 off 24 balls, five fours) had a new partner as Adnan Akmal walked out to open in a move that backfired as the Test wicket-keeper scored only nine from 14 deliveries.

The Eagles’ innings was highlighted by Imran Farhat and Azhar Ali who joined hands to put on 64 off 48 deliveries. Imran, dropped in the deep by Haris Ayaz off Sami, fell to the same bowler for a 31-ball 41 spiced with five boundaries and one six. Azhar again failed in his bid to get the big hits; his 23 off 24 included 13 singles and three twos.

It was then left to Saad Nasim (19 off 13 balls) to give his team a fighting total with a brace of sixes in Sami’s final over that cost 16 runs.

Rumman Raees Khan, the left-armer who replaced fellow fast bowler Sohail Khan in the playing XI, bowled a brilliant final over that yielded only two runs as the Eagles lost three wickets. Off-spinner Haris bagged two for 25.

The Dolphins will play Lahore Lions in the first semi-final on Saturday, while the other semi-final pits underdogs Peshawar Panthers against the formidable Stallions, who were engaged in an inconsequential final preliminary-round tie against Rawalpindi Rams while this report was being filed.